Son’s Shooting of Friend Ruled Parents’ Fault

A Van Nuys Superior Court judge ruled Friday that the parents of a 13-year-old Canoga Park youth who shot and paralyzed a 14-year-old playmate can be held liable for negligently leaving a loaded gun unlocked in their bedroom while their son was home unsupervised.

Judge Robert M. Letteau made the ruling in a non-jury civil lawsuit filed by Mark McKee and LaVonne McKee, whose son, Dwayne, was shot and rendered a partial quadriplegic by Jeffrey Townsend on June 7, 1985.

The 1985 lawsuit named as defendants Jeffrey’s parents, David and Marilyn Townsend, and Anafuel Corp., a synthetic fuel company of which David Townsend was the chief shareholder and chief executive officer.

Letteau ruled that the now defunct corporation was a “shell company” and the “alter ego of David Townsend,” clearing the way for the McKees to sue the corporation, which had a $1-million insurance policy.

McKee, now 19, testified that Jeffrey Townsend shot him in the neck with David Townsend’s .38-caliber revolver in the master bedroom of the Townsend home. McKee said he had been planning to call his mother to pick him up because the younger Townsend had been acting strangely.

Jeffrey Townsend, now 18, testified that the shooting was an accident.

The suit seeks unspecified general, punitive and exemplary damages plus money to pay for medical expenses and past, present and future earnings that Dwayne McKee will lose as a result of his injury.

Townsend was arrested by Los Angeles police on suspicion of attempted murder, but was found guilty by Juvenile Court authorities of a lesser offense and placed on probation.

Both sides are to return to court on March 22, when Letteau is expected to assess damages.